Barely a few months ago, Brad Pitt was back in the news for filing a fresh lawsuit against his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie. The actor dragged Jolie to court for maligning his image and damaging his business of Miraval wines. Responding to the lawsuit, the Maleficent actress has now filed a jaw-dropping $300 million lawsuit against her ex-husband.
The French vinery, founded by Jolie, claims that Pitt and his team plotted a devious campaign to “seize control” of the property. The company contended that the lawsuit came “in retaliation for the divorce and custody proceedings” and to “ensure… Jolie would never see a dime” of its extensive profits.
Further, the actor was also accused of blackmailing Jolie to sign a “hush clause”. The clause would bar her from discussing the circumstances that led to their divorce. The lawsuit also states that Pitt blew millions of the company’s money on “vanity projects”. The court papers were filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Jolie and Pitt each owned 50% shares in the property and “much of Jolie’s personal wealth” was tied up in the winery as per her legal team. “In retaliation for the divorce and custody proceedings, Pitt embarked on a multi-faceted, years-long campaign to seize control of Chateau Miraval and appropriate the company’s assets for his benefit and that of his own companies and friends. Appointing himself as the rightful owner of Chateau Miraval, his twin objectives were to usurp the value of Jolie’s company, Nouvel, and to obtain sole ownership of Chateau Miraval,” stated the lawsuit.
After the divorce, the actor reportedly restricted Jolie from getting any information. He tried to “block Jolie and Nouvel from obtaining information about or managing Chateau Miraval.”
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought a controlling stake in the vineyard in 2008, three years after they began dating. The said vineyard is located in southern France, along with Château Miraval. It is also the same venue where the couple tied the knot in 2014.
(Featured Image Credits: Twitter @angelinajoliefanpage)
